Batteries running down quickly when off camera

[theantiquetiger]

The shoot I did yesterday of the four kids, I had my flash off camera, triggered by those cheap Chinese wireless triggers. I was shooting in ETTL. It did fine, but only lasted about 20 shots.

Do the batteries just run down quickly due to being off camera and running in ETTL (always searching for my camera), or do I just have weak batteries?

[Marko]

weak batteries to me.

[theantiquetiger]

weak batteries to me.


When I say weak batteries, I am meaning they are going bad. I know they were fully charged. They maybe not taking fl charges any more.

[christopher steven b.]

I use yongnuo transmitters / receivers and I kid you not that in general the cr2 batteries that I buy for them last me about 2 wedding seasons, so 30ish weddings, thousands and thousands of shots. The AAA's last maybe 7 or 8 weddings at minimum. That said, I'm not using ETTL versions.

One thing I would recommend if you're not doing this already: for wireless triggers use alkaline batteries and not rechargeable.

If you're getting only 20 photos using new alkaline batteries, yes, there would likely be something wrong with your wireless kit.

[Iguanasan]

I'm using Yongnuo triggers and Yongnuo flash. I've been getting Panasonic batteries from Dollarama (5 AA or 5 AAA) for $2.00. I'm not using TTL but I get a couple of hundred shots out of the flash batteries and the triggers I only replace once every 6 months or so. They seem to last forever.

[Marko]

When I say weak batteries, I am meaning they are going bad. I know they were fully charged. They maybe not taking fl charges any more.

Your batteries have had their day it seems.
Buy new quality rechargeable batteries or change the ones you have to fresh alkaline ones as already suggested. Rechargeables lose effectiveness over time.

These rechargeables are cheap and FAB. http://www.thomasdistributing.com/Maha-Imedion-AAA-950-mAh-NIMH-Rechargeable-Batteries-Low-Discharge_p_2566.html and they last.

[theantiquetiger]

Mystery of the weak batteries has been solved.

I took the batteries out today to be charged and this is what I found.

That is three rechargeables and a cheap dollar store battery. (Yes, I put that cheap battery in the charger before I went to take those portraits.

Only mystery left - Where is my other rechargeable? I am guessing in a trash can somewhere in Disney World!!!
Disney World was not a good place for me with batteries. I lost this rechargeable and my extra battery for my Canon 60D!!! :shrug:

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r198/theantiquetiger/210DBE55-F881-465A-9A20-AD9294925AEF.jpg